Facebook bought Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide, in April 2012. Since then, Facebook Inc., or rather, Meta Platforms Inc., has officially owned Instagram. In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg and a group of people who were his housemates at Harvard College founded Meta Platforms, Inc. Aside from Instagram, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Inc.) has acquired and launched several other platforms that bring people together. If you’re wondering who owns Instagram as well as other companies that Facebook owns, then you need to check this out.
Does Facebook own Instagram?
Yes, Facebook’s parent company, Meta Plateform Inc., owns Instagram. According to Wikipedia, Meta has engaged in the acquisition of several enterprises, which are frequently referred to as talent acquisitions. In April 2012, the company made a significant acquisition by purchasing Instagram for an estimated US$1 billion in cash and equity. In October 2013, Facebook, Inc. acquired Onavo, a mobile web analytics business based in Israel. The user’s text does not contain any information to rewrite. In February 2014, Facebook, Inc. made a public announcement regarding its acquisition of WhatsApp. The mobile messaging app was sold for $19 billion, which was paid in the form of cash and stock.
Subsequently, in the same year, Facebook bought Oculus VR for $2.3 billion in cash and stock. Oculus VR, the company in question, subsequently introduced its inaugural virtual reality device for consumer use in 2016. Facebook, Inc. made a public announcement in late November 2019 regarding its acquisition of Beat Games. This is a game developer renowned for creating Beat Saber, a highly acclaimed virtual reality game that gained significant popularity throughout that year.
In May 2020, the acquisition of Giphy was worth $400 million. The integration will be carried out with the team at Instagram. In August 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of the United Kingdom asserted that Facebook, Inc. may be required to divest itself of Giphy. However, Giphy underwent a divestiture process and Shutterstock acquired it in 2022 for a total of $53 million.
What does Mark Zuckerberg own?
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms, Inc. This company is home to several platforms, including the most common and widely used social media platforms. He launched some of the brands he owns, but he also acquired a sizable number of them. The following are some of the companies owned by Mark Zuckerberg:
#1. Facebook
During his time at Harvard University, Zuckerberg, along with three fellow students, developed a social media platform that would later be known as Facebook. Established in 2004, Facebook gained immediate and widespread popularity. Today, it’s one of the most common social media platforms. Presently, Facebook is a subsidiary of Meta, and over the years, it has stood out as the most financially lucrative corporation, boasting a user base of approximately three billion individuals who engage with the platform monthly.
#2. Threads
The most recent project inside the Meta organization is Threads, an application that the Instagram team created and released on July 5, 2023. This app primarily facilitates the exchange of textual content among its users. As per the Meta press statement, the business aims for Threads to enhance Instagram’s core strengths by incorporating textual elements, hence fostering a constructive environment for individuals to articulate their ideas and thoughts. Well, that’s what the team has to say, but the whole world thinks that Thread’s primary objective is to compete with Twitter. The application garnered a user base of 10 million individuals within a seven-hour timeframe after its initial release.
#3. AI.Reverie
Next on the list of what Facebook owns is AI.Reverie. AI.Reverie was acquired in 2021. Before its acquisition by Meta, the platform had been employed in the domains of agriculture, retail, and industry. The specific financial information regarding the purchase was not revealed.
#4. Instagram
Although Mark Zuckerberg is not the founder of Instagram, Facebook acquired the platform two years after its establishment in 2012, thereby establishing Meta as the present owner. Instagram is one platform that endeavors to empower individuals to build communities and foster global connectivity. Although it was acquired for only $1 billion, the platform currently boasts a user base of over 2.3 billion active individuals and an estimated valuation of over $102 billion.
#5, WhatsApp
Due to its widespread use and reputation as a dependable communication platform, WhatsApp has a large global user base that numbers in the billions. Established in 2009 and subsequently bought by Facebook in 2014, this transaction was one of the most significant technological acquisitions in recorded history. Facebook’s acquisition of the messaging app exceeded $21 billion, significantly surpassing other notable acquisitions at that period, such as Google’s purchase of Nest Labs for $3 billion.
#6. CTRL-Labs
In 2019, Facebook acquired CTRL-Labs for between $500 million and $1 billion. The neural interface startup created a wristband capable of transmitting electrical signals from the brain into a computer. The purpose of the CTRL-Labs wristband is to improve the ways humans interact with machines so that they may no longer need to use physical controllers such as a mouse and keyboard. This acquisition marked a substantial hardware investment by Facebook, which is using the technology in its augmented and virtual reality projects.
Facebook acquired Onavo, a mobile web analytics tool, in 2013, intending to keep an eye on rivals. The platform exerted a significant impact on several business decisions, notably its strategic acquisition of WhatsApp.
#8. Beluga
In 2011, Facebook successfully bought Beluga’s service and its team, which consisted of former Google workers. The acquisition was estimated to be valued between $10 billion and $15 billion. The concept behind its technology was then employed to develop Messenger, a platform designed for seamless and instantaneous private group communication.
#9. Oculus VR
In 2014, Facebook acquired Oculus VR, a business that specializes in the production of virtual reality (VR) headsets. Facebook acquired the company for a substantial sum of $2 billion after an extensive ten-year endeavor in the realm of virtual reality. In 2021, Meta decided to retire the Oculus moniker and rebrand it as Meta Quest. This announcement confused certain consumers, as during a conference addressing the company’s name shift from Facebook to Meta, Zuckerberg stated that the company’s applications and brands would remain unchanged. Despite the alteration in nomenclature, both headgear, namely Oculus Quest and Meta Quest, exhibit identical characteristics and functionalities.
#10. LiveRail
In 2014, Facebook’s acquisition of LiveRail for a sum between $400 million and $500 million was announced to enhance the quality of video advertising for all users. Established in 2007, LiveRail emerged as a prominent platform specializing in the supply side of video content. Publishers like A+E Networks and Dailymotion used the platform to connect with advertisers by implementing an automated bidding mechanism.
#11. Mapillary
In the year 2020, Facebook made a public declaration of its intention to acquire Mapillary, a prominent mapping company headquartered in Sweden. Mapillary was recognized as a significant participant in the mapping industry and was regarded as one of the most notable geospatial companies during that period. Mapillary was established in 2013 to address a costly issue in the field of mapping, namely the maintenance of up-to-date street-level data on maps, in a manner that might compete with the capabilities of Google Street View.
#12. Vidpresso
In 2018, Facebook bought Vidpresso’s technology and staff for an unknown sum, intending to remain competitive in the realm of popular video platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Snapchat. Vidpresso was established in 2016 to facilitate the integration of social media into live productions for broadcasters, podcasters, and event producers. Although Facebook did not acquire the entirety of the company, it did procure its cutting-edge technology and a team consisting of seven individuals. The primary purpose of the acquisition was to enhance the functionality of Facebook Live and augment its interactive capabilities. Vidpresso’s technological capabilities enable the integration of social media polls and comments onto the screen during Facebook Live broadcasts.
#13. Atlas Solutions
In 2013, Facebook made an acquisition of Microsoft’s Atlas Advertiser Suite to assist marketers in comprehending the relationship between their expenditures and financial returns. Microsoft acquired Atlas from aQuantive for a sum of $6.2 billion; however, Facebook subsequently procured it from Microsoft for an estimated amount ranging from $50 million to $100 million.
#13. Ascenta
To provide internet connectivity to regions without access, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be procuring the technical team from Ascenta, a solar-powered drone manufacturer based in the United Kingdom, for a sum of $20 million. Mark Zuckerberg made a public announcement on his personal Facebook account, stating that the acquisition is a result of Facebook’s ongoing efforts to develop methods for providing internet access to individuals through aerial means.
#14. Little Eye Labs
In 2014, Facebook bought Little Eye Labs, an Indian firm that specializes in developing software tools for the analysis of Android application performance. The organization’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stated that the company intended to create a product that specifically addresses the difficulties faced by a new group of developers who specialize in mobile applications. Facebook’s fervent ambitions to compete with Twitter in the field of mobile development and device accessibility were the driving force behind the acquisition.
#15. ProtoGeo
In 2014, Facebook bought ProtoGeo, a Finland-based firm responsible for the development of a sophisticated application used for tracking physical activities. The Moves application utilizes the accelerometer on a user’s phone to monitor and record their daily physical activity. The application operates covertly to monitor the usage and mobility patterns of a user’s mobile device.
Does Facebook Still Own Instagram?
Yes, as of the time of this article, Meta Platforms, Inc. still owns Instagram. In case you don’t know, Meta Platforms, Inc. was formerly known as Facebook, Inc..
Is Instagram Independent of Facebook?
Yes, Instagram is independent of Facebook. Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 with the promise of keeping it as dependent as possible. Over the years, the Meta company has remained true to this promise.
Is TikTok Owned by Facebook?
No, TikTok is not one of the platforms under Meta Platforms or Facebook Inc. Chinese businessmen founded ByteDance Ltd., which is the parent company of TikTok. Global institutional investors, including well-known companies like Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group, currently hold more than 60% of the company’s shares.
Why is Instagram Sold to Facebook?
According to CNBC, the need to improve its mobile strategy and combat competition from Twitter and Google+ was the main driving force behind the acquisition of Instagram. According to one source, it would be advantageous if Facebook were able to successfully adapt and thrive on mobile devices.
Does Mark Zuckerberg own part of Instagram?
Yes, Mark Zuckerberg is the largest shareholder of Instagram but not the full owner.
Does Mark Zuckerberg still own Instagram?
Yes, Zuckerberg still owns Instagram, but Meta Platforms Inc. owns it. On the other hand, Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Instagram, so it’s okay to say he owns Instagram.
Did Mark Zuckerberg Own Instagram?
Well, yes. Zuckerberg is still the founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company that owns Instagram
Who Owns Meta?
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta, which he launched in 2004 as Facebook. He is in charge of the company’s strategic direction and product strategy.
What Separates Instagram from Facebook?
The fundamental distinction between Facebook and Instagram is in the content formats. Facebook supports content formats, whereas Instagram only allows users to upload visual content in the form of images, videos, stories, and reels, along with a succinct caption.
Is Facebook and Instagram Merged?
Not in any way. Facebook and Instagram operate differently, even though they both belong to the same company.
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